Mike Wolfe

Fluent API

Fluent Interfaces

It's probably irresponsible of me to share the following technique with you because you'll be so tempted to abuse it. But let's do it anyway.

Tools

Installing and Updating Access Applications

Want to be a professional Access developer? Then you can't ask your clients to copy and paste .accdb files to their computers. What do you do instead?

Basic

Constructing Version Numbers

Every program needs a version number. But there's no need to overthink it. When versioning Access apps, less is more.

Business

Pricing Annual Technical Support

How am I trying to fix my biggest business mistake? By giving my clients three options that explicitly address their risk tolerance.

Business

My Biggest Business Mistake

What's the best way to bill for ongoing technical support? I don't really know (HA!). But I think I know the worst way to do it.

Business

My Personal Journey

Join me on a self-indulgent trip down memory lane, rationalized as a "context-setting" exercise for future business-focused articles.

SQL Server

Yes/No Fields in SQL Server

The SQL Server equivalent of an Access Yes/No field is the "bit" data type. Or is it?

SQL Server

Working around the "Reboot Required" error when installing SQL Server

A previous installation required a reboot... To proceed, [uninstall ODBC Driver 17,] restart your computer and then run Setup again.

Commentary

Access Migrations

Data migrations are high risk operations. You can't prepare for every pitfall, but a good plan will maximize your chances of success.

SQL Server

SQL Server Read-Only Mode

Before running a final data migration, you want to ensure no further changes will be made to the old data. One way to do that is to set the database to read-only.

Commentary

How It's Always Been Done

Good programmers know how to code. Great programmers know why. The best programmers question why.

Advanced

Super-Safe Boolean Handling

If you want to be safe when working with Booleans, you need to ensure they're stored as 0 or -1. That's not as easy as you might think.

Advanced

Deceptively Complex Booleans

Why is VBA such an optimistic language? Because there's only one way to say "No," but 65,535 ways to say "Yes."

Code Library

Get a Handle on Window State

Using the IsZoomed and IsIconic API calls to return the window state (minimized, maximized, or restored) of a form, report, or Access itself.

Tools

21st Century Visual Basic

Microsoft stopped supporting VB6 in 2008. Here are some modern options for migrating those old apps or developing new ones in 2020 and beyond.

Risk Management

Proving the Concept with Access

Committing to a major custom software development project is fraught with risk. Reduce that risk by prototyping in Access first.

Holiday

Merry Christmas

"...the shepherds said to one another, 'Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.'"

Basic

Unicode-Friendly MsgBox

There's a great big world outside of the ANSI bubble. Make every MsgBox in your program Unicode-safe in no time at all with this drop-in replacement.

Code Library

Unicode-Safe Filtered Filename Lookups

Need a Unicode-safe way to retrieve a list of filenames from a folder? And its subfolders? And filtered by filename? It's all here!

Intermediate

Short-Circuiting VBA?

Beware of clever workarounds for missing language features. Sometimes the simple approach is best.

Code Library

Clearing a List Box in Access

Sometimes you need to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. Here's a simple function to do just that for an Access list box.

Risk Management

MS Access Risk Management

Applying US Army risk management techniques to assess Microsoft Access application risk.

Advanced

Checklist: The Best Access Applications

Good. Better. BEST. Is your Access application as good as it can be?

Intermediate

Checklist: Better Access Applications

Good. BETTER. Best. Is your Access application good enough to sell?

Basic

Checklist: Is Your Access App GOOD?

GOOD. Better. Best. Does your Access application clear the lowest bar for quality?